Gaultheria plant named ‘GSW1600201’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Gaultheria  plant named ‘GSW1600201’, characterized by its compact and uniformly mounding to rounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering and freely fruiting habit; white-colored flowers and white-colored fruits that typically do not “pink” during low light and low temperatures conditions.

Botanical designation: Gaultheria procumbens.

Cultivar denomination: ‘GSW1600201’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR/APPLICANT &ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Genius Genes Production Facilities B.V. of Wilp,The Netherlands on Feb. 27, 2018, application number 2018/0627. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofGaultheria plant, botanically known as Gaultheria procumbens, commonlyreferred to as Wintergreen and hereinafter referred to by the name‘GSW1600201’.

The new Gaultheria plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Twello, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new uniform and compact Gaultheriaplants with numerous flowers and fruits.

The new Gaultheria plant originated from a self-pollination conducted bythe Inventor in Twello, The Netherlands in July, 2014 of a proprietaryselection of Gaultheria procumbens identified as code number 1000-8, notpatented. The new Gaultheria plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated self-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inTwello, The Netherlands in October, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Gaultheria plant by in vitro meristemculture in a controlled greenhouse environment in Twello, TheNetherlands since May, 2016 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Gaultheria plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Gaultheria have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘GSW1600201’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘GSW1600201’ as a new and distinct Gaultheriaplant:

-   -   1. Compact and uniformly mounding to rounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth        rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering and freely fruiting habit.    -   6. White-colored flowers and white-colored fruits that typically        do not “pink” during low light and low temperatures conditions.

Plants of the new Gaultheria can be compared to plants of the parentselection. Plants of the new Gaultheria differ primarily from plants ofthe parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gaultheria are more compact than plants of        the parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Gaultheria are more freely flowering and        freely fruiting than plants of the parent selection.

Plants of the new Gaultheria can also be compared to plants ofGaultheria procumbens ‘SPECGP11’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.27,170. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Gaultheria differprimarily from plants ‘SPECGP11’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gaultheria are more rounded and not as        flat-topped as plants of ‘SPECGP11’.    -   2. Plants of the new Gaultheria have larger leaves than plants        of ‘SPECGP11’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Gaultheria plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe actual colors of the new Gaultheria plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘GSW1600201’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of theupper and lower surfaces of typical leaves, developing flowers, fullydeveloped flowers and developing fruits of ‘GSW1600201’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the early autumn in 15-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Twello, The Netherlands andunder cultural practices typical of commercial Gaultheria production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C.to 15° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 10° C. Plants were22 months old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Gaultheria procumbens ‘GSW1600201’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gaultheria            procumbens identified as code number 1000-8, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gaultheria            procumbens identified as code number 1000-8, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About one to two weeks at            temperatures about 18° C. to 19° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About three            months at temperatures of 4° C. and higher.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white to brown in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen shrub; compact            and uniformly mounding to rounded plant habit; moderately            vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 18.1            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 16.9            cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 36.3 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit, typically about 20 primary lateral branches            each with typically five secondary lateral branches            developing per plant. Length: About 13.5 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm. Internode length: About 9.5 mm. Aspect: Primary            lateral branches, about erect to horizontal and secondary            lateral branches, about 50° from primary branch axis.            Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;            developing stems are matte becoming slightly glossy with            development. Color, developing: Close to 145B; at the            internodes, close to 148C variably tinged with close to            182A. Color, developed: Close to 147D variably tinged with            close to 181C and 182B; with development, color becoming            closer to 182B; when woody, close to 164A and 165B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 4.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Coarsely and shallowly serrate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, mostly glabrous            except for main vein which is pubescent; not rugose;            coriaceous; slightly glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; not            rugose; coriaceous; very slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146D. Full            expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than between 139A and            N189A; venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 145C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:            Close to 145A to 145B variably tinged with close to 181A.            Color, lower surface: Close to 145C variably tinged with            close to 184C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Terminal flowers arranged            in short racemes with typically three to four flowers per            inflorescence, and axillary flowers are single; flowers            urceolate in shape and nodding; freely flowering habit with            about 650 flower buds and flowers develop per plant during            the flowering season.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            spring into the autumn in The Netherlands; plants begin to            flower about 20 to 25 weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one week; flowers not            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence size.—About 1.9 cm by 2.2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Broadly ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy. Color: Immature sepals, close to 155B and            immature petals, close to NN155C.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 8 mm by 8 mm. Depth (length): About            1 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a            single whorl; lower 87.5% portion of the petals are fused.            Length: About 9 mm. Width, free part: About 2 mm. Shape,            free part: Ovate. Apex: Broadly and bluntly acute, recurved.            Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; not rugose; velvety; matte.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; not            rugose; moderately velvety; matte. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; venation,            close to NN155D; color does not change with development or            conditions. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D; color does not            change with development or conditions.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a            single whorl; lower half fused. Length: About 4 mm. Width:            About 2.5 mm. Shape, free part: Ovate, slightly concave.            Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155A. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 1.25 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Continuous with lateral branch.            Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Close            to 151C variably tinged with close to 182C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 7.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 50° from peduncle axis.            Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Close            to 150B to 150C variably tinged with close to 183C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            ten; basifixed. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color:            Close to NN155A. Anther size: About 0.5 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther            shape: Narrowly oblong, fringed at the apex. Anther color:            Close to 165B; towards the apex, close to 165D. Pollen            amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 164D. Pistils:            Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Style            length: About 4.5 cm. Style color: Close to 155C. Stigma            diameter: About 0.5 mm. Stigma shape: Narrowly club-shaped.            Stigma color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close to 146D.        -   Fruits.—Quantity: One per flower; about 650 fruits develop            per plant during the autumn in The Netherlands. Length:            About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 cm. Fragrance: When            crushed, wintergreen fragrance. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, when developing: Close to 145A. Color, developed:            Close to NN155C; fruits typically do not “pink” during low            light and low temperatures conditions.        -   Seeds.—Quantity: Numerous seeds per fruit, dust-like.            Length: Less than 0.2 mm. Diameter: Less than 0.2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 164C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Gaultheria    have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Gaultheria plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Gaultheria have been    observed to tolerate temperatures of about −23° C. to 35° C. and to    be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Gaultheria plant named ‘GSW1600201’ as illustrated and described. 